Belize is a popular location for call centres due to its proximity to the US, its former status as a member of the British Commonwealth, and its strong infrastructure. The country has a robust emerging BPO industry, with more than 20 call centres operating across the country. While call centres are primarily located in Belize City, the BPO industry is also expanding throughout the country, with centres in San Ignacio and Belmopan.
Talech, a company that provides point-of-sale software, iPad registers, and related services, has a call centre in Belize City.
What You'll Learn
Benefits of outsourcing to Belize
Belize is a small Central American country that is often overlooked as a nearshore outsourcing location. However, it boasts many benefits that make it an ideal location for outsourcing. Here are some reasons why outsourcing to Belize is advantageous:
English-Speaking Country
Belize is a former member of the British Commonwealth, and English is the mother tongue of its local citizens. As native English speakers, Belizeans possess neutral dialects, making them ideal candidates for contact center jobs. This is especially beneficial for companies seeking multilingual support, as over 50% of the population also speaks Spanish.
U.S. Cultural Affinity and Proximity
Belize has strong cultural ties to the United States, as many Belizean contact center agents have worked in the tourism industry, which welcomes over a million American visitors annually. Additionally, American television channels, including news, sports, and movies, are prevalent in Belize. This cultural alignment, combined with its proximity to the U.S., makes Belize an attractive option for companies seeking a more hands-on outsourcing partnership. Belize is easily accessible from the U.S. with daily non-stop flights from several U.S. cities, and it shares the same time zones as the U.S., making day-to-day business operations more convenient.
Low Attrition and Turnover
The contact center industry in Belize boasts low attrition and turnover rates compared to other regions. While industry turnover among call center workers can be high in other parts of the world, ranging from 30 to 45% in some countries, Belize does not face the same issue. Contact center staff in Belize may be highly qualified, but limited local job opportunities in their field keep turnover rates low.
Regional Stability and Safety
Belize stands out as one of the most politically and culturally stable countries in the region. In contrast, some of its neighboring countries, such as Honduras and Guatemala, have experienced political unrest and violence. Belize's stability and safety make it an attractive option for companies concerned about the security of their outsourcing operations.
Strong Infrastructure
Despite being a developing country, Belize boasts a robust infrastructure in terms of education, politics, and technology. Belize has a high literacy rate, and many contact center workers hold college degrees. The government actively supports the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry through tax incentives, classification as a "priority sector," subsidized training, and promotion of the industry as an investment opportunity. Additionally, Belize has reliable fiber optic hubs (ARCOS and TELMAX) with high redundancy rates, ensuring stable and reliable telecommunications.
In summary, Belize offers a unique combination of advantages, including a native English-speaking population, cultural and geographical proximity to the U.S., low attrition rates, regional stability, and a strong infrastructure. These factors make it a compelling option for companies considering nearshore outsourcing destinations.
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English as a mother tongue
Belize is a small country in Central America, south of Mexico, with a population of just over 400,000 people. It is one of a handful of countries where English is the mother tongue. As a former member of the British Commonwealth, Belize is a country where English is the official language and the first language learned by its citizens from birth.
English is a global language that dominates all areas of communication. It is the second most spoken language in the world after Mandarin Chinese, with 375 million native speakers, 400 million speakers as a second language, and 750 million speakers as a foreign language. That means that around one in four people worldwide can communicate in English to some extent.
English has the richest vocabulary of all the world's languages, with over one million words and approximately fifteen new words created every day. It is the primary language of the internet and of electronic information, with 80% of electronic information written in English. The development of mass media and global communication has made English the world's leading international language, influencing numerous cultures and societies worldwide, particularly in the language of public communication, media, and IT.
Belize, as an English-speaking country, is an ideal location for call centers serving English-speaking countries in North America and beyond. Belize's proximity to the US, its alignment with US time zones, and its cultural affinity with the US due to tourism, make it a convenient location for outsourcing call centers from the US. The call center industry in Belize is valued at $400 million and employs more than 3,000 people.
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Low attrition and turnover
While the specific location of the Talech call center in Belize City is not available, here is some information on the benefits of locating a call center in Belize, including low attrition and turnover:
Belize is an ideal location for a call center, with many advantages that contribute to low attrition and turnover rates. As a former member of the British Commonwealth, Belize is one of the few countries where English is the native language, with 90% of the population being native English speakers. This makes it a prime location for companies seeking English-speaking and bilingual call center agents, particularly those serving English-speaking markets.
Belize also shares a U.S. cultural affinity, with many contact center agents having worked in the tourism industry, which welcomes over a million American visitors annually. This familiarity with American culture, combined with a neutral accent, enhances their ability to connect with and serve American consumers effectively.
Furthermore, Belize boasts a stable and highly educated workforce, with many agents considering call center work as a long-term career path. The country has a low unemployment rate, and its educational hub, Belize City, produces thousands of new graduates each year, ensuring a steady supply of qualified talent for the call center industry.
Belize's proximity to the U.S. is another advantage, with daily non-stop flights from several U.S. cities and time zones that align with those of the U.S., making it convenient for doing business. Additionally, Belize has a robust infrastructure, both technically and educationally, which further supports the effectiveness of its call centers.
All these factors contribute to Belize's low attrition and turnover rates in the call center industry, making it an attractive option for companies seeking a stable and reliable outsourcing destination.
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Regional stability and safety
Belize is an ideal location for a call center for several reasons, one of which is regional stability and safety.
Belize is one of the most stable countries in the region, both politically and culturally. This sets it apart from many of its Latin American neighbors, such as Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras, which have experienced varying levels of political and social turmoil.
Belize has a strong, stable democracy, which is a key factor in attracting foreign investment. The country also has a low crime rate, making it a safe choice for businesses and their employees.
The country's proximity to the United States, shared time zones, and cultural affinity further contribute to its appeal as a nearshore outsourcing destination. Additionally, Belize has a robust infrastructure, which is impressive for a developing country. This includes strong educational, political, and technical foundations, as well as good utilities, transportation, and technology.
Belize's stability and safety are enhanced by its strong service-based economy and customer service culture. The country's call center industry is valued at $400 million, and it employs more than 3,000 workers. The industry is a priority sector for the government, which has made significant investments to support its growth.
Belize's regional stability and safety, combined with its other advantages, make it an attractive option for companies seeking to outsource their call center operations while maintaining high-quality customer service.
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Strong infrastructure
Belize has a strong infrastructure, which is impressive for a developing country. This includes robust educational, political, and technical systems. The country has a strong service-based economy and a customer service culture.
The infrastructure is supported by the US and the UN, with a focus on improving living conditions and the tourism industry. The country has a pro-business investment climate, progressive policies, and democratic stability. The BPO industry is a priority sector, with major government investment.
Belize has excellent infrastructure, utilities, transportation, technology, and telephony. The country's infrastructure is so strong that it can support the high-quality jobs that outsourced call centers bring to the underemployed population.
Belize's strong infrastructure, combined with its English-speaking population, makes it an ideal location for business process outsourcing (BPO) and call centers.
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Frequently asked questions
The talech call center in Belize City is located at 190 Newton Barracks Road, The Icon Building.
The talech call center in Belize City offers a range of services, including live chat and email support, sales and telemarketing, bookings and appointments, financial and debt collection, and data processing and database clean-up.
Outsourcing a call center to Belize offers several benefits, including cost savings of up to 50% compared to in-house operations, a large pool of highly qualified and cost-effective agents, proximity to the US, cultural affinity with the US, and a stable political and cultural environment.
As of 2021, there were over 20 call centers operating in Belize, with more than 3,000 call center employees. The industry is growing, and the expected CAGR from 2021 to 2025 is more than 3%.